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As usual, things didn’t get off to a great start for Elkins. Johnson blasted him with several hard left hands early, leaving him wobbling around the cage in the opening minutes, with the blood flowing soon after.

But weathering a beating is nothing new for Elkins, and by the end of the first the output from Johnson had already decreased. Early in the second, Elkins caught a Johnson kick and used it to take him down, moving quickly to side control.

Johnson tried to escape by scrambling to his knees, but that only gave Elkins the opening he needed to take Johnson’s back. When Johnson was slow to fight the hands as Elkins wrapped his forearm around Johnson’s neck, it allowed Elkins to latch on the rear-naked choke and squeeze for the finish, leaving Johnson no choice but to submit.

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“This was one of the biggest wins of my career and I think I am due for some respect,” Elkins said. “Michael Johnson came to fight tonight and we had a fun one, but I had been practicing that submission throughout my camp. When the opportunity came, I took it – and that’s how I fight.

“I know that I’m not going to be the next one to challenge for the title, but I feel like I’m close. I want the fight that gets me to the title shot next. I don’t care who. I know I’m ready. No one has a better win streak in this division than the champion himself, so I hope to see him soon.”

The victory brings Elkins’ current streak to six straight wins in the UFC. Johnson has now lost three in a row, and five of his last six.